1. an atom, ion, or molecule that binds to a central metal atom to form a coordination complex
Usage: chemistry; biochemistry
2. a molecule that binds specifically to a receptor protein to trigger a biological response
Usage: biochemistry; molecular biology

Examples

• The chloride ions act as ligands in the copper complex.
• Water molecules can serve as ligands in many metal complexes.
• The hormone functions as a ligand that binds to cellular receptors.
• Researchers studied how the drug ligand interacts with the protein.
• Each ligand in the coordination compound has a specific binding site.
• The enzyme’s activity changes when the ligand binds to its receptor.